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I pretty much stick with VBR mp3s I've ripped myself - mostly because I can play them through just about anything these days, more specifically, my Audiotron and PC at home and my Mac at work. I don't have the disk space to run larger files and don't feel like going through and reripping over 500 CDs in my collection. Besides, VBR mp3s sound pretty good - not quite CD quality, but that's what I've got CDs for...

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Have you tried using Panaflo's? I've found them to be the quietest fans I've worked with that push a decent amount of air. I have a bunch of the "high speed" models in my system and they are quiet for the amount of air they move, though I've found that having 5 of them will make your system loud no matter what (which is why I'm getting a fan controller). Getting the "high" model and pairing it with a fan controller (which it sounds like you already have) would allow for the most amount of flexibilty in the noise vs. performance catagory. They're definately worth the investment.

To me there are a few sweet spots that I've experienced first-hand with PC audio:

stationary PC, cheap: $25 Chaintech
stationary PC, less cheap: $165 (guitar center price) E-MU 1212M
stationary PC, all-out (withou external DAC): $250+ modded E-MU 1212M
mobile/stationary PC, no headphone amp needed: $60? Audiotrack Optoplay


some that seem like sweet spots, that I've not heard:

mobile PC, headphone amp needed: $60? modded Audiotrack Optoplay (a la doobooloo)
mobile PC, no headphone amp needed: $150? Echo Indigo
stationary PC, all-out: $$$$+ modded E-MU 1212M + glass optical + jitter reducer + power regenerator/conditioner + high-end coax digital cable of your choice + high-end DAC of your choice

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I'm very tempted to get you to help me mod the Opto Play but it's just so damn useful as a compac portable laptop card... GRRRRRR!!!

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LOL, that's exactly what I have in my computer, all Panaflo high speed (4 80mm and 1 120mm) and one 92mm Delta wind tunnel for the CPU. It gets HOT in my room at times, so it's nice to have it quiet but have the headroom to cool my computer if I need to. Panaflo's are great fans, love 'em!!


PS: if you are looking for a controller, look into the Sunbeam one, I have it and it is better than the Vantec ones (have two of them). The Vantec ones make PWM noise and some fans do not like PWM, and they alternate speeds as a result.. very annyoing. The Sunbeam uses MOSFETS I believe.

I don't get it.. in my case i've got 2 120mm's and 1 92mm on my CPU... my CPU and mobo temperatures are always below 90 Fahrenheit and such, mobo temp is usually below 80 F.

I tihnk the issue here is people not full integrated their components possibly? i.e. if you want cooling, get a REALLY good heatsink for your CPU, mine cost ~60$ but it's the best, I can keep it cool with like 1800rpm on my CPU fan. Also, things like rounded IDE cables help a good deal.

I dunno, i've just never need more than one or two fans in my case.. don't udnerstand why people need like 5...

Since the CPU's gonna be creating the most heat of any component sans the Gfx card, you might a well shell out for a really really nice CPU heatsink and good fan for said heatsink, because then you won't be spending the time to install 5 fans when you could've just cooled down the CPU to begin with

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That's exactly the one was going to get. I think that I'll get my dad to order it (from SVC.com) as soon as he gets home. I leave my computer on 24/7 in my room so I'll be getting rid of the LEDs though.

BTW: Here are some good parts for those who want a quieter computer:
* Mobile edition AMD AthlonXP 2500+ (less heat than P4's and less heat than standard A-XP's, and they underclock more for even less heat output).
* Zalman 7000AlCu or 7000Cu Heatsink: best silent HSF hands down.
*Antec Sonata case: designed for lowest noise levels. It utilises two 120mm fans instead of 4 80mm's for maximum airflow/noise ratio. It also comes with a decent PSU.
* Sunbeam fan controller. It's one of the best and cheapest fan controllers on the market.
* Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer. If you have a noisy ATI graphics card then this is the solution for you. It's very, very silent. It's also the best cooler reguardless of noise level, so you can have your silence and do a little overclocking (if you wish) on the side.
* Panaflo fans. Mentioned before, very good noise output. You also want to look into SilenX (www.silenx.com), but their noise output is under rated, and they have very poor pressure which means they're a bad choice for heatsink cooling.
* Arctic Silver 5. It's the best Thermal Interfact Material, and will knock off 2-10 degrees celcius over generic white good or other "silver" pastes. Be sure to follow the official instructions at Arctic Silver's website.
* Via EPIA ME 6000. Passilvely cooled CPU/mobo combo. NO FANS REQUIRED. Though any kind of fan is highly reccomended for maximum longevity of the board.
* Good case airflow. If your case is a rats nest of wires, clean them up and you'll most likely see a drop in temperatures.

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First of all, you live in Washington State, I live in Southern California. BIG temperature difference. My room gets up to 82F during the day. I have a Thermalright SP97 and a Delta 92mm 110cfm fan... pretty much THE best air combo on the planet. I have an ATI 9800Pro which puts out a lot of heat. I have done all I can to keep my computer cool short of water and phase change, which is rediculous. My case ambient temp is 29C and CPU is 42C with the fans low. All those fans you can't understand why I have are virtually silent when I turn them low and loud when it gets hot. Once you vent the heat off the CPU, where is the hot air going to go without case fans? I would rather have a loud computer than a dead computer, wouldn't you agree?

But if your CPU temp is only 42C with the fans on low, why ever turn them up? How much cooler could it need to be? I don't even get worried about the temp until I hit 50C, then some action should be taken.

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Because the computer is idling. It gets hotter when I edit audio or play games I put good money into it, I just want to see it last a long time.

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Of course! I didn't know you meant that was your idle temp. I only have two lowered-speed panaflo 80MM exhaust fans, and a 7V Panaflo 120MM CPU fan, good enough to keep my athlon XP @ 2.3GHz to less than 50C, even when the room temp is above 80, so I'm stoked. Might upgrade to a Thermalright SP97 if I get the chance soon (currently using an Alpha PAL8045).

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LOL, I had the 8045 as well, exceptional cooler. I got the SP97 because it is all copper, and I could put 92mm fans on which make a lower pitch sound when turned up. The SP97 is in a class by itself when it comes to quality (right up there with Swiftech) and perfomance is THE best. Lowered my CPU temps by about 3-4C, which doesn't sound like much, but I could lower my fan speed and get the same temp as before. I love my setup, I am a computer nerd first and a pseudo audiophile second. I enjoy sound more, but I know more about computers, so naturally computer-based sources are my fetish. The sound can get a little much but the fan controller takes care of that. And it is much more convenient and flexible than a standalone source, but that's subjective. I wish I could get the 1212M, but I haven't the money and when I do, I would rather get a SVS subwoofer for my RB-5II's. Okay, enough ranting. I can't even remember what we were talking about

How loud are your computers? I have 3 80mm (1 variable on the hsf and 2 in my powersupply.) I forget the models...I also don't remember what speed I'm running at...anyway, I can run with my 80mm on my hsf quieter than my powersupply and I still find it annoying (50 under load.) My power supply's supposed to be quiet too (vantec stealth.) I'm thinking about moving up to this super flower power supply that has an 140mm fan in it to quiet things down further, but this competes with my emu1212m fund. On the other hand, why get the emu1212m if my computer raises my noise floor so dang much?

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Very good point. I guess that is why I am not pursuing the 1212M more, the benefit will be drown out by the computer. When I have everything turned down real low, the loudest thing is my northbridge fan and my GPU fan. It is as quiet as an ant fart but it is still there. I will figure something out someday, but the sound doesn't bother me too much when its low, but full blast forget it.

I really want to get this 140mm power supply to lower my noise floor. I think it really may help. I can't believe my power supply is the loudest part of my computer.